{Filename?} Rooney is injury free!!! Told You!!!
Fidelis Katonga
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England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said striker Wayne Rooney is "injury free" and will be able to play at the World Cup as soon as he is match fit.
The 20-year-old returned to England's camp late on Wednesday after a scan on his broken foot in Manchester.
Rooney attended England training on Thursday ahead of the opening World Cup game against Paraguay on Saturday.
"I'm doing this in the best interests of Rooney, the England team and 40 million England fans," said Eriksson.
Rooney has been out of action since breaking a metatarsal in his right foot against Chelsea on 29 April.
There were fears the injury would rule the Manchester United striker out of the entire tournament.
But his club issued a statement on Wednesday saying the 20-year-old would be fit - but only after the group stage of the tournament.
United added that at that point a "very careful assessment" would be needed to decide if Rooney could participate.
But Eriksson insisted the star, who had been tipped to be England's star player before the tournament, was only now working on his fitness.
"The good news from Wednesday evening and today is that Rooney has no more injury. He's injury free," he said at Thursday's news conference in Baden-Baden.
"Now, it's up to us to get him match fit and, when we think he's match fit, I'm prepared to take in any specialist we want to take in, or Manchester United want us to take in."
Rooney returned to the England camp on Wednesday evening, where the BBC's chief football correspondent Mike Ingham - who was in the reception of the team's hotel when Baden-Baden when the striker returned - heard him declare 'The Big Man is back in town'.
Rooney had flown to Manchester on Wednesday for the scan in a private jet and spent a further two hours at a clinic later in the day while doctors studied the results.
Among the medical staff who were at the Whalley Range clinic where Rooney's foot was scanned were United doctor Tony Gill and physio Rob Swire, England team doctor Leif Sward and other specialists.
It is thought that a consultant from Fifa was also on hand in case of a conflict between the club and the FA and it was reported that United lawyers were there.
England captain David Beckham said the players were pleased to see Rooney back in the fold but insisted they were focused on Saturday's opening match against Paraguay.
"It's nice to have him back but to be honest we haven't really been thinking about it too much as the players have been concentrating and focused on training and it hasn't been a distraction," he said.
"Wayne's been doing the same tests and his fitness level is up there with the rest of us but whether he plays is up to the management."
jakamoko
rabid they practically run ppl up the wall.
so let's see what their wonder kid can do on the big stage.
DaudiChwa
We almost did it after 20years but were cheated by one short, stout,
fat, round and now a drug addict called maradona